A site for my handmade cards, accompanied by my photos and written meanderings which are occasionally witty, often tongue-in-cheek, and rarely profound. Beginning in June 2013, you'll also see lots of NBUS, which is an acronym I coined for Never-Before-Used-Schtuff. Feel free to join in, use the acronym, and use up your NBUS too! Thanks for coming by! Have a beverage and enjoy!

October 12, 2013

I'm back! I am so happy to report that everything went as smoothly as moves can and my two sisters Doris and Donna are safely tucked in together and happy as two sweet peas in a pod. We even got to meet a few walking, talking angels, but I'll tell you more about that in a separate post.

I couldn't wait to get back to the Playhouse and get crafty! While I don't have a lot of Halloween-related card products, I do have a lot of autumn/fall schtuff with which I could make a few dozen cards if I ran amok. Actually, amok means a frenzied killing spree, which is just way too violent for the gentle art of card making.

My autumn card today is being linked to several fun challenges, which all lined up the way we love them to do.

A lot of the world's most talented card artists are on the Design Teams for these challenges, so you should check out the links for inspiration! If you can join in the challenges, the links will provide you with all the fine print and the prize and sponsor details.

I am also entering my card in Susan's Thanksgiving Crusade over at her blog Simplicity. Please make a note to link your gratitude and thanksgiving cards on the top tab at Susan's. There are no prizes or sponsors, but it is a great resource to find lots of beautiful Thanksgiving card inspirations in one place!

Here is my card:

The background paper mat is a beautiful autumn leaf design (NBUS). The embossing folder is also NBUS, made by Cuttlebug, but it doesn't say the name on the folder. I'm assuming it's "tree bark" or the like. To make the sediment tri-colored, I used Stampin' Up! ink cubes in Cajun craze, so saffron, and always artichoke. I laid the cubes on the stamp one at a time in a row. One of those hold-your-breath moves that miraculously worked the first time!

The leaf was colored with markers directly to the stamp. I applied more ink by wrapping a Kleenex over my finger, inking it and pouncing the ink lightly in places. I then fussy cut the leaf, outlined it in Cajun craze, and adhered it to the card front with pop dots. It's really sheenilicious on that glossy paper, but you'll have to use your imaginarium to see it since the photo didn't captivate it.

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I am thrilled and delighted to find that I have three new friends who arrived while I was away. Please meet:

57 comments:

Love the clean layout - it looks good for CASology's Crisp, too! Glad things went well with your sisters - I had forgotten about that and was starting to think that things were a bit quiet in your neck of the woods - happy that all is well!

Hello Darnell.I am pleased that everything went smoothly and that your sisters are happy.Your card is stunning. I love the way you have coloured the leaf, it really looks amazing and the embossed background looks wonderful. The seasonal coloured sentiment is perfect.I hope you are having a good weekendhugs Sue xx

Beautifully colored leaf... so crisply outlined with a curled little edge. Perfect. Sister's are so helpful and supportive...happy to hear all went well. I look forward to hearing about the walking talking angels.Hugs

Hey Darnell ! I just love this pretty leaf with all it's colors and bling! Perfect against that embossed BG! So glad you have your sisters all tucked in! I am sure it was hard work, but lots of fun, too!!!

Ah the traveller returns :)Missed you!Gorgeous card Darnell-I love that leaf and the little raindrops on it too :)and how jammy were you getting that sediment right first time!!As for Duke-why?When they have the biggest most ginormous beds do they still hang off the side?Jay always "falls" off her bed LOL!Hugs,Nessa xxx

So glad that your sister's move went so well Dippy........did your parents get stuck on the D word? lol Fabulous card - just love the colours andtexture you've got on your leaf. Isn't it so annoying when manufacturers "forget" to put the pattern name/number on their goods? I've taken to writing the name of the e/f on the pront (using a Sharpie) as soon as I get it otherwise I forget the name.......senior moments you understand! The Dukester is obviously tgriving under the regimes of both households......eg spoiling him rotten! Hehe

Glad you made it to CASology! As for catching up on commenting after being away, I don't even try! I can barely keep up as it is, and I'm sure you do even more than I do! Bev has a good post, and my post about our trip was in my Festive Friday post this week.

What a gorgeous leaf Darnell. The ef looks like Distressed Stripes by Cuttlebug. My OCD thing is to keep stuff in its original packaging and just keep buying storage!!I have improved and can sometimes throw away or at least store separately the outside plastic bag!! I hope I get over it one day LOL!

Hi Dolly. So glad your sisters are all moved in together and are there for each other. What a wonderful support you have been to help get this organized!!

Your card is beautiful. There's something special about maple leaves - I love them ... and I don't think it's because we have one on our nation's flag, but that doesn't hurt! :) The colors you've used look fabulous and distressing makes it look so real. Great job on this card that covers off all the challenges. Lolly xx

What a great card. I love the raindrops on the leaf. I've never used a kleenex to stamp with but sounds like a good idea to keep the fingers clean (hence kleen -ex). Oh well, it's been a long day. Glad that your sisters could be together, much better than living alone. It's nice to have you back.

Darnell...welcome home! You have been missed that is for sure. So happy that all went well on your trip. What a stunning card too, that leaf is so beautiful and with the wood grain behind it is fabulous. See you soon.

Lovely to see you back, and your Sisters are together, that's nice.You have done a lot on that leaf and it looks fabulous, the background is beautiful too,you'll have to show what that stamping up cube looks like, very kool effect, thanks for sharing and for your new followers, they are wonderful card makers, happy Thanksgiving to you too, hope your enjoying your weekend..

Amazing details and creativity! I love how you colored the leaf and the sentiment. And those clear shiny spots... are they Crystal Effects or something like that? Great card! Thanks for sharing with us at Freshly Made Sketches!

Darnell, that leaf is amazing! I love the way you swirled all those colours onto it and the dewdrops are the perfect addition! Thanks for playing along with CASology this week!

Glad to hear that all went well with your sisters and that you met a few angels! That picture of Duke is hilarious. Atti hangs his head off his bed sometimes too. Can't imagine it's comfortable but whatever...

Surprise! I'm here and I'm commenting! shhh...it's also midnight.I am admiring that multi-colored leaf and loving how you created it! :) The sentiment is rather eye catching too in its tri-colored glory! This is just plain and simply one gorgeous CAS card, Darnell!Thank you so much for continuing to join us over at CASology! :)

I love your leaf! Thanks for describing how you added all that yummy color. It looks fabulous! I really like your white textured background and multi-color sentiment as well. It all works together perfectly! Thanks for playing at ATSM. :)

Oh my, but I have catching up to do; amazing how three days away results in returning to my favorite blogs, where 'gorgeous' is happening. Your autumn card here is case in point: stunning! Love the colours, the sequins , the layout - winner winner all around! Great to hear your sisters are now roommates - and your photo of your four-legged grandson: heart-warming! "Goofball" of cuteness!!c

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About Me

I have been stamping and making cards since 2002. I've been married 47 years to Kevin, known herein as "Mister." Our son Daniel and his wife Rachel have twin sons Henry and Adam. Card-making and blogging are wonderful hobbies which have brought me noodles of friends! Oh, and I have an imaginary hamster named Hammy who keeps me in line. Thank you for visiting, joining, and commenting! It will be my pleasure to return the flavor!!